Last night I went Christmas caroling with Terre Roche and friends, both Terre’s and mine. This is a highlight of every year and this year is no exception. Terre has been doing this every year since 1978 or so. I started in 1990, took a break when I lost touch with Terre and didn’t know when it was occurring, and picked it up again when I friended her on Facebook. This is one of the reasons that I love Facebook despite its flaws, it brings people back into my life. You might have noticed that I have some flaws of my own and I want people to still love me. I’m fantasizing that someone is shocked to hear I have flaws.
Why does a Jewish atheist love Christmas caroling? Because there I so much more to it than religion, even when the carols mention Jesus. It took me a while to get over that hump, but I did. The songs are beautiful and singing them with others makes me feel good. They generate the secular values of peace on earth and good will towards all men. In simpler terms; it makes me happy and I’m not going to look for intellectual reasons to dislike it. It has a good effect on me and those around me, many of whom are also Jews and or atheists.
Every year I try to get new carolers to join us; this year it was Jackie and Bob. I was hoping for some more and as I saw neither of them until after we were finished perhaps they were there. Come join us next year. Watch me on Facebook, I’ll always announce it. Maybe I should do an evite. I’ll consider it for next year.
Part of my tradition is getting their early, I’m usually the first one. This time I wasn’t As I approached the arch in Washington Square I heard caroling? I was worried that I had somehow screwed up the time. I hadn’t. This was another group; they had a baby grand piano. Fortunately, they finished just as we were scheduled to begin. Terre and I were worried that we’d have to have a rumble to get control of our turf.
I as not the first of our group to arrive, I found Terre talking to Fred and others. OK, who were the others? Lisa? I think I got there before Barbara. Teak was there. Who else? David, duh. We were soon joined by David, different David, and Alex. Alex is very tall, so I was able to spot him and call them over to join us. When the first caroling group ended I went over to our spot and found Emily there. She hadn’t seen us off to the side. We were soon joined by Katherine. The first time she got there early was the only time the caroling started late. We soon found Deb who joined us. As usual there were not enough lyric sheets for everyone, so Fred and I shared. Sharing lyric sheets is very Christmas, or as I said, “Socialist Christmas!” There was something new this year, there were also Chanukah lyric sheets; last night was the start of the holiday; Chag sameach.
I am not a good singer or even an average one, but I am not shy to join in with everyone else. That’s the magic of group singing, it is more than the sum of its parts. It’s he wisdom of the crowd, it averages out to the right note; especially when it’s being held together by great singers like the Carolling Carollers. It even works when we sing the Hallelujah Chorus without lyric sheets or the assignment of parts. I sing whatever part I think I can handle at the moment. Others do the same. It’s not professional rendition but it’s not a train wreck. It’s the embodiment of community and the holiday spirit.
There were two memorable instances of forgetting. Someone I’ve known for seven years honestly admitted that she forgot my name. She blamed it on a concussion. She needed a shock to the brain to forget. I just need being an idiot. I have always had a mental block with Emily’s name. Following my friend’s example, I went up to Emily and asked her. By the time I got home I forgot it again. I had to search through Terre’s friends on Facebook till I found her. Maybe it will now stick in my head until the next time I see her. Lots of people forget names but I think I care about it more than most. I work at remembering, so it always feels like failure when I don’t.
I always forgot two other friends that were there. Before we started I heard a dog bark, I thought I recognized Birdie, I did. As expected Diana was with her. Caroling is universal, it’s for Christians, Jews, atheists, Hindus, and dogs. My Gentle Readers know that my wanting “Us” to be inclusive of everyone is a core value of mine. Of course, dogs are automatically a part of us. I don’t want to be a part of any group that excludes dogs. Dogs know how to keep Christmas and keep its spirit all year round.
I was in several pictures taken by friends. One of these years I’ll get all my friends together for a group shot. I’ve been listening to videos from the Roches Christmas show of 1990 at the Bottom Line. Those shows were my entry drug to Christmas shows. I didn’t have any Christmas traditions until then. I’ve added many since then, some have come and gone, but caroling under the arch has remained. Next year come join us.
Wise Madness 